EU Eliminates Full-time Monitoring of Microsoft for Antitrust Compliance

From DailyTech: Microsoft is one of the most closely watched companies in the world; it has been accused and found guilty of anti-trust violations on several occasions. Microsoft has found itself fighting anti-trust issues both in America and in Europe on more than one occasion.

The European Commission, the EU's antitrust body, announced today that it would no longer dedicate a full-time trustee to the monitoring of Microsoft for anti-trust ruling compliance. In 2005, the EU dedicated a full-time trustee to monitor Microsoft in part of ensure that the software giant provided information to rivals after being found guilty of trying to stifle competition in 2004.

So far, Microsoft has been fined $2.13 billion by the European Commission in relation to antitrust violations. The Commission executive body said in a statement, "The Commission no longer requires a full-time monitoring trustee to assess Microsoft's compliance."

EWeek reports that the Commission cited changes in Microsoft's behavior, more opportunities for third parties to exercise their rights in national courts and experience gained since the 2004 ruling as key reasons to eliminate full time monitoring of Microsoft.

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